Baked Ziti with Meat Sauce and Spinach

This is a great dish to make for the freezer or for any night of the week.

I just made this for some friends that were moving, so that is why the picture is taken before it has been fully cooked!

16 ounces Ziti pasta

28 ounces (1 large can) of crushed tomatoes (I like the low-sodium)

1/2 teaspoon of extra light virgin olive oil

4 cloves of garlic, chopped very well

1 box of frozen spinach, thawed and drained

1 pound of lean ground beef (I use 93/7 organic ground beef)

1 teaspoon dried Oregano

1 teaspoon dried Basil (if you have fresh use a little bit more)

1 cup of part-skim Ricotta

2 cups shredded Mozzarella (part skim/reduced-fat)

1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cook pasta to the directions on the box, then drain and return to same pot that you cooked it in.

In a large saucepan saute the garlic with the olive oil, then add the ground beef and cook, once cooked at the spinach to same saucepan, then add the large can of crushed tomatoes. Then add the Oregano and Basil and let the flavors blend together and then add the salt and pepper just to taste.

Then ladle the spinach and meat sauce over the past and mix.

Add 1 cup of shredded Mozzarella, Ricotta and Parmesan to mixture and mix very well.

Transfer to a casserole dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

Then top with remaining cup of Mozzarella.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Enjoy!!!!!